A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 508

The Superb Rookie of the Baseball Team 509

Section 107 Lucky Guy in Florida (2)

Following ‘Professor’ Brett Evans, the Tampa Bay Rays were preparing to say goodbye to another legend.

It was Brian Sphan, the man who became the general manager at the young age of 28 and built the current Tampa Bay Rays.

Although he was about to retire, he expressed his desire to avoid a gloomy and depressing atmosphere. As a new era approached, he wanted to foster a fun and lively environment.

In that spirit, the event that this cautious and calm veteran front office member proposed to Jiseop was-

“It’s a costume party.”

This was what Jiseop revealed to his colleagues in the future strategy planning division the next morning.

“The general manager has proposed holding a costume party, combining it with his retirement ceremony.”

“Wait a minute, Kim!”

The first to react to Jiseop’s announcement was David Wilson.

“A costume party… Is it what I think it is? Dressing up as characters from movies or comics and enjoying the party? Something like that?”

“Yes, that’s right. The players do it often, right? When rookies come in, or during Halloween parties.”

Jiseop answered in a light tone, but the people in the future strategy planning division were blinking in surprise.

They seemed perplexed. While Major League Baseball had its share of eccentrics, they never expected a retirement ceremony to be a costume party.

“Well, I understand your surprise… But I think the general manager had his own reasons.”

By now, Jiseop had become Brian Sphan’s self-proclaimed successor.

Therefore, he felt obligated to represent his perspective to some extent.

“The baseball team’s front office always works under intense pressure, right? Even if it’s unavoidable due to the nature of the job, too much tension will eventually lead to burnout.”

“Hmm, are you saying we need to relieve the tension appropriately…? At least as much as at the end of a season?”

Jiseop slowly nodded at Charles Flex’s words.

“That’s right. Other teams hold these kinds of events every year, but Tampa Bay hasn’t been able to… The president seems to have always been concerned about this.”

In fact, this was largely due to the Tampa Bay Rays being a relatively budget-conscious team.

They had low salary levels, but many front office members with excellent skills.

In the second half of the season, recruitment offers poured in from various places, and those who accepted them left the team at the end of the season.

Ultimately, the office was left with sparse vacancies, as if teeth had been pulled out. It wasn’t easy to hold a party in that atmosphere.

“But now it’s different. This could be seen as a statement. As the team’s revenue has increased, we’ve been able to match the salary levels of our employees.”

“It has many meanings in many ways… Oh, but I’m still not sure. Is this okay?”

John Lama clicked his tongue.

“But it’s a retirement ceremony, right? The employees who have worked with the president for a long time are already feeling sentimental, but we’re holding a costume party? Will people respond well?”

“Kim, I have the same thought. A fun and lively retirement ceremony… It sounds good, but it could lead to negative talk.”

John Lama and David Wilson were taking a cautious approach, unlike usual.

Since the two were quite stubborn, Jiseop felt the need to play his trump card.

“Well, I don’t know how you guys will receive this…”

After hesitating for a moment, Jiseop snapped his fingers and turned to Charles Flex.

“Flex, what do you think? Even as you get older… Your childhood dreams stay the same, right?”

“Childhood dreams?”

Charles Flex chuckled.

“Isn’t that obvious? It’s the body that gets old, not the mind! Those old people out there? If you know them, their hearts are still those of young boys and girls, right?”

“Hehe, that’s right, isn’t it? Then I wasn’t completely wrong.”

“What does that mean?”

It was at this moment that Jiseop lowered his voice and spoke to John Lama, who was looking at him, puzzled.

“This costume party… I was wondering if maybe one of the president’s personal wishes was reflected.”

“Personal wish?”

“Yes, was it last Halloween? The president mentioned something. When he was young, he wanted to wear a Batman suit at least once…”

Jiseop gave a soft smile.

“The format of the party can vary, but the fact that he specifically chose a costume party… Isn’t that the result of his childhood dream being reflected to some extent? Even if it’s just a little.”

Jiseop twirled the pen he was holding.

“Fulfilling one of the president’s childhood dreams… Wouldn’t that be a good retirement gift? It could be a story to tell later.”

“Hmm, now that I hear it… It’s not a bad idea.”

David Wilson expressed his agreement.

“I definitely think this is the last chance. Even if you attend parties after retirement, you’ll only go to formal events, right?”

“Haha, that’s right! This is the only chance for the general manager to dress up as Batman! Ah, then I have no choice!”

“I have to do it. Of course, I have to do it.”

John Lama seemed to be already wiggling in his seat.

“Kim, then leave the preparation to me. I have a friend who makes a living from this kind of event.”

“Oh, really?”

“Haha, I’m looking forward to this. President Brian Sphan appearing as Batman…”

John Lama rubbed his hands together, his eyes sparkling.

“It will be a scene that will remain in our club’s history for a long time.”

* * *

John Lama Taylor, the only son of club owner Jeffrey Taylor.

He still couldn’t quite grasp baseball, but he was a natural at making people happy.

Less than three days after being tasked with preparing the costume party, he reported that he had completed all the arrangements.

This was while Jiseop was on a business trip to Montgomery to check on the minor league prospects.

-Yes, I just posted an announcement on the intranet! We are holding a costume party to commemorate the end of the season and the retirement of the general manager!

The report continued that the date was set for the first Thursday of October.

The day after the Tampa Bay Rays’ final game of the season, and the day before Jiseop’s inauguration ceremony as general manager.

He said that it would be the most appropriate day to hold a retirement ceremony for Brian Sphan.

“How are people reacting?”

Jiseop had to know.

“By now, there should be some comments on the intranet, right?”

-Good, it’s really good!

John Lama was beaming.

-When I posted the first announcement, it was a bit lukewarm, but after the specific details were announced in the second announcement, the response was very good! Everyone is going crazy now!

It seemed that John Lama’s extensive network of contacts had finally proven useful.

His friend, who runs an event company, decided to provide the costumes for the party free of charge.

Thanks to this, Tampa Bay employees didn’t have to prepare anything. All they had to do was visit the event booth on the day of the party and say what they wanted.

John Lama posted photos of the costumes provided by the event company on the intranet, and the club employees seemed to be happily overwhelmed with choices.

“That’s a relief. With the postseason appearance being thwarted, I felt like the atmosphere in the club’s office was a bit down.”

Events for the fans are important, but I need to pay attention to events for my fellow employees as well.

Jiseop was thinking that at this moment.

“Thank you for your hard work. Is there anything I can help you with?”

-Nothing special… Ah, that’s right! There’s one very important thing!

What costume are you going to wear, Kim?

John Lama asked.

-There are so many costumes prepared! There’s Spider-Man, Smurf, and Elvis Presley! You probably don’t want to, but there’s also a set to dress up as Babe Ruth or Joe DiMaggio.

“…Babe Ruth and Joe DiMaggio? Wait a minute, is it okay to include that?”

Both are legendary figures representing American baseball.

But it wasn’t a costume that Tampa Bay Rays members could wear.

“Both of them belonged to the New York Yankees, right? A Tampa Bay employee would be wearing Yankees clothes?”

-Haha, R. J. Higgins, the vice president, told me to include it as a penalty! To make people who are late to the party wear it… Don’t you think it’ll be fun?

“Damn it, I can’t be late that day.”

-What are you worried about when you always come to work first? More than that… What kind of clothes are you going to wear?

John Lama asked again.

-Tell me anything! The Batman costume must be left for the president, so everything else is possible.

“Really? Then…”

For Jiseop, who had a complicated mind due to the handover, worrying about what to wear to the party was a pretty good change of pace.

What kind of costume would be good? Which movie star did I want to imitate?

After thinking about it for a while, a character suddenly came to mind.

“Do you have… Iron Man?”

-Oh, Iron Man?

John Lama smiled slyly.

-We have it, but… Wouldn’t that be a bit much for Kim? Strictly speaking, Batman and Iron Man are in competition.

“Competition?”

-Yes, Batman is a DC Comics character, and Iron Man is a Marvel Comics character, right? These two companies have been fierce rivals since the old days, so…

John Lama, who had been explaining for a while, smacked his lips and continued.

-You don’t understand now, do you?

“…Yes.”

Jiseop smiled bitterly.

“I don’t understand anything you’re saying.”

* * *

About 10 days later, the Major League regular season schedule was over.

This season, the Tampa Bay Rays’ final record was 81 wins and 81 losses, exactly a 50% win rate.

Compared to last season, when they won the World Series, it was definitely a disappointing result, but the atmosphere within the club was by no means bad.

There was also the fact that they had secured a large number of promising players in the unprecedented ranking competition [referring to the MLB draft, where teams with worse records get earlier picks], and that the promising players they had secured showed their potential.

In addition, the fact that the new stadium construction project was in full swing and the club’s long-term development direction was established could not be overlooked.

So, on the first Thursday afternoon of October, when regret for this season and anticipation for the next season were mixed-

Phil! The Hits, Rays!

Phil! The Hits, Rays!

The Tampa Bay Rays’ cheer song was echoing in a hotel banquet hall near Tropicana Field.

It was the very event that Brian Sphan, the general manager, had proposed and John Lama Taylor had prepared, the Tampa Bay Rays front office’s costume party.

“Hahahaha, what is that?!”

“Hey, Peter! You’re the main character today! It’s really amazing!!”

Tampa Bay employees entering the party hall with special costumes, unlike usual.

Every time someone appeared in the banquet hall, the employees who were already there were pouring out applause and cheers.

Even when R. J. Higgins, the vice president, appeared wearing a large stingray costume, and when Rebecca Canney, the vice president, appeared wearing Teletubby clothes.

When Mike Clambleas, the manager, appeared dressed as Elvis Presley, the legendary American singer, the banquet hall was almost reminiscent of a concert hall.

“Mike! Mike! Mike!”

“Wow, manager, you look great today? Hahahaha!”

As the party atmosphere was getting hotter and hotter, there were also some bickering voices.

It wasn’t anywhere else. It was the people in the future strategy planning department who were in charge of the event that day.

“Lama, isn’t this a bit too much? How is this a Spider-Man costume?”

David Wilson, dressed as Spider-Man, was complaining.

“Spider-Man’s clothes have to fit perfectly to taste, right? But look at this, the clothes are drooping… It looks like I’m wearing a rag?”

“Hey, that’s why I said from the beginning. Spider-Man is so popular that the costume is not in good condition.”

The person who retorted shamelessly was John Lama, dressed as the Statue of Liberty.

“If you don’t like it, I can change it to a Yankees player uniform. Why, should I bring it to you?”

“Wow, are you going to make me wear a penalty costume at this timing? How far is a person going to be vicious?”

David Wilson, who couldn’t beat John Lama, turned his gaze to Jiseop.

“Kim, say something! Lama, this guy, only bullies me? He gave Kim an Iron Man…”

David Wilson looked enviously at Jiseop’s sparkling costume.

Jiseop winked and showed off the sound effects coming from the ‘Jieing’ [sound of Iron Man’s suit] costume, but that leisure didn’t last long.

“No, more than that… I can’t see the president, what happened?”

“The president?”

“Yes, I received a call that he had arrived a long time ago, but his entrance is delayed. It seems that most of the employees have entered.”

“Is that so? It wouldn’t take that long to wear a Batman costume… Hmm?”

It was at this moment that John Lama’s eyes widened.

“Oh, this… this is a bit strange?”

“What is it?”

“Oswaldo, the director of the marketing department, was originally assigned a Marilyn Monroe costume? Vice President Higgins asked me to?”

“Marilyn Monroe, you mean… that actress?”

Oswaldo, the director, and R. J. Higgins are always bickering, so it was possible.

“But now that I see it… Director Oswaldo is wearing a Batman suit?”

“Could it be, did it change?”

Jiseop also widened his eyes.

“The costume to give to Director Oswaldo and the costume to give to the president?”

“I, I think so? Because there was only one Batman costume prepared.”

“Wait a minute, then the clothes that the president is holding in the dressing room now are…”

Swish.

It was at this moment that Jiseop and John Lama got up as if they had made an appointment.

They couldn’t make the general manager of the Tampa Bay Rays, especially the general manager who was a few days away from retirement, wear a Marilyn Monroe costume.